Lens block



May 20, 1952 M. SUB-EN 2,597,543

LENS BLOCK Filed June 5, 1948 INVENTOR MORTEN SUBEN ATTORNEY ,drawn away from the lens.

Patented May 20, 1952 ytion of kNew York,`

7 Claims.-

This: invention relates to lens blocks for supportnglenses in the operation of grindingy and polishing thesame.4 More particularly, the inventiondeals with a lensl block construction wherein meanssis provided-for pressing` a .suction cuppso as;to provide three `circumferential or ,annular pressureengaging surfaces-of a cup with alens, While the central portion of the cupis Still more particularly.- the invention deals with avvlens` block o f they typev under= consideration having means .for couplingvarious operating tools Ytherewith and irl pmvidng Ia rigid orsubstantial pressure cone foILSuDDQr-ting.thecupon the lens. ,Furthenthe invention .deals with the construction of a novel suction cup for engagement with the lens or other support.

The novel features of the yinvention W-illbe best understood from the following-description when ytaken together with `the accompanying vdrawing, .nwhich certain embodiments of the ,inventionare disclosed, and in which the seperate Darts are Adesignated by suitable reference 4charactersineach of the views; `and in which:v

Fig,1`is an exploded view of the several primary parts` of ailensblock, made `accordingtomy invention, illustrating one part in itsrrnormal attachmentzwith a lens or other support.V

'Fig.2, is an enlarged sectional view showing the assemblage ofthe parts, `and attachment of the'block. to a lens; and

Fig; 3 shows the mounting of the pressure ring onthe suctioncup, vwith the' suction cup'inIlOr- 'malposition `Lens'lclks 'of' the type 4and kind under fconsideration are Nadapted-for mounting in connectionwith grinding and polishing machines of various; types and. kind, and thefpresent invention deals `with a blockadapted for mounting and operation in machines having diierenttypes and kinds of operating tools or members.

In the accompanying drawing, in Figs.- 1 and 2, I havelshown at I I), a lens or other support 'in connection with which'a block device; made according `to lmy invention is adapted to be securedfinthe support ofthe lens in the operationofgrind-ing and polishing thesame. Considering'Fig. 1, the block may be said to comprise four primary detachably connected parts, namely the cup part II, the pressure ring I2 and the lpressure cone I3, also the clamping -nut III. These parts 'are vshown in'an explodedV reiiationslrip-"with respect toeach other'in- Fig; l. They/lare shown inv assembled operative position inf-Eig. i2, and Fig; 3, 'two-of vtheL parts-arefm J2; normal-assembled. relationship, `namely *the4 cup I-l l and; fthe; rirev l2 The .cup `I I fcomprises-a substantallyr conical cup, bodyhaying. an inwardly hevelled and. substantially, perpendicular peripheral Wall- I 5. 'I The .wallA I5 has.,a slightly. bevelled lower surface -I whichforms; a ridge ,or proj ectionl I Ijat the inner Isurfaceo f fthe Icup.y Inwardly l,of the ridgaII, the innersurface of. -the lwall, I5 hasav circumferential rib, or. enlargement I., andv theA ridge Illandfrbionenlargement .I y denesinthefoperatve-.llee-Of; the (11113,12W0- annular v0.1-G,irllrrlferel.1- tial pressure v,areas of vengagement .with lthe v lens I0, as at I'I and I8 respectivelynote,Fg.,2.

f The oentralportiouof theupper empi-the 1119,11 hase. transversely Ystraielit bottom wall ll'ferminaan innerclosure.for.an enlarged hub portielnl'ML` Suitahlyanehored in the., hub-- por,- tien-#20.15,anintemally threaded ,sleeve 2l,

,any means beingprovided on the outer rsurface thereof ferenehoraeeinlthef 111110,20. te prevent rotationV anddsnlaeementof. the,sleeve-` At 2,2

.iehewn a. stud. having a 'reduced externally threadeddower end .23..f0r engagementwthlhe usleeveL` 2, I-,- the, larger upper end ,2.4, ofv the vstud being. externelly.V threaded. and being adapted to.. seatfupon a. Washer. 2,5, The bore of the studi? has .at its inner. end, a., small, diameter tapered vbore.26ca dapted-.to receivea plug 271.

having .a ,conical upper. Surface. as at 2.8'- At ,'Ilhe nu t, I4j is internally threaded to enjjgagethethreeded end 24Qfthe stud, 22 and-the Quiere d ,Qfthenuthasaconeel recess es ,et

30;t0.,e1.d msilidiriga toelinto the .concal'bore 2 9 .v The,outerhsurface Aofthe nut is recessed, as seen at, 3j 4 to formtwo milledor other .gripper surfaeeslwnd Onsed nuteeilitetinemeretion thereof.` inattachine the black `to a lens` or other support- Thepressure rire.A I2 is preferably COmHQSEd 0f yieldalile materatsueh as ,.rubloer, as ,selso the cone II, and this` ring has a slightly conical upper surface, Siemeeting .with e .downwardly bevellefl Outer Surface y3,5.,Whiel1. in turn registers withjan, inllildlybevelled lower periphery 36. The b.0,1`e 31.of the ring I2 is adapted to lt freely, but snugly, .on the hub '20 of the Cup, thebore being, enlarged; 21.5....'Seen et 38 at the lowerpltion-inneren; andamos' enlargement joins. the

v4me nevemf Whehisf rre'iefreblyi Slightly different fram; the

bevel or taper of the conical cup Il, as clearly seen in Fig. 3 of the drawing. The bottom wall I9 of the cup has a center projecting indicator 4l to facilitate centraling the lens l0 or other support on the cup, particularly when the parts are in the position as seen in Fig. 1 of the drawmg.

The pressure member or pressure cone I3, in the construction shown, comprises a comparatively heavy annular ring-like body 4I, terminating at its lower end in an outwardly iiared conical portion 42, the inner surface 43 of which extendsonto the body 4I. The upper surface of the body 4I has a relatively narrow inwardly protruding fiange portion 44, which is of sufficient diameter to fit freely over the stud 22, but is of less inside diameter than the outside diameter of the hub 20. The body 4I has two or more tapered bores 45 arranged closely adjacent the greatest diameter of the nut I4 and in these tapered bores are fitted plugs 46 having conical upper recesses 41 to receive tools for guiding and supporting the lens block in the operation of moving the lens supported thereon with respect to grinding and polishing tools. In one instance, the guide and supporting tools engage two opposed plugs 46, whereas in other types of machines, a single tool is adapted to be arranged in the recess 28 of the plug 21 in support and guide of the block. It will clearly appear from a consideration of Fig. 2 of the drawing, that the larger diameter bore 48 of the body 4I is adapted to fit freely over and move relatively to the hub portion 20 of the cup II.

In the use of my improved device, the suction cup II is first pressed by hand onto a lens or other support in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the cup being centralized with respect to the lens in this operation by utilizing the indicator 40. In this operation, the cup has been flexed so that the bottom wall I9 is brought into close proximity to the surface I' of the lens, the pressure areas II' and I8' have been established to some extent andthe Wall structure of the cup has been brought into close proximity to the surface I0 to establish a partial inner and primary pressure area 49. The pressure area 49 in the normal position of the cup as seen in Fig. 1 is only slight, and might produce a relatively narrow engagement with respect to radial dimensions.

With the cup attached to the lens, as shown in Fig. 1, the next operation is to place the pressure ring I2 in position, with the bore 3'I arranged around the hub 20. Now the cone or pressure member I3 is placed in position on tcp of the ring I2, after which the nut I4 is coupled with the stud 22, and the nut is now tightened so as to push down on the pressure member or cone I3, including the ring I2, while at the same time, drawing the central portion of the suction cup I I upwardly or away from the surface I0'. This operation is continued until the cup is firmly secured in position, and in Fig. 2, the parts are shown in their nal assembled position.

In firmly securing the block to the lens, the surface 39 of the pressure ring is pressed downwardly upon the wall structure of the cup to securely retain the pressure aieas I1' and i8' upon the surface of the lens and to materially increase the pressure area, as at 49. the latter becoming the primary securing and sealing area of the cup on the lens. The area I8' becomes a secondary pressure area, whereas the area lII' becomes a thirdv and sealing pressure area. This last pressure area serves primarily to prevent moisture, grinding compounds and the like from entering beneath the surface of the suction cup or to enter the annular chamber as at 50, between the pressure area I'I and the pressure area I8.

Another annular chamber 5I is provided between the pressure areas 49 and I8. In the operation of securing the parts together, distortion of the rubber body of the suction cup, as well as that of the pressure ring takes place, and while some of this distortion is diagrammatically illustrated, no attempt is made in the present illustration to accurately show the actual structural changes which take place.

The heavy body of the pressure member or cone, concentrates the pressure to the outer peripheral portion of the ring, or upon the outer conical surface 35 thereof, so that this pressure is transmitted to the body of the cup inwardly of the wall I5, and also through said wall to the enlargement I8 and the ridge Il. It will be understood that a device of the kind under consideration may be utilized for mounting on supports of any type or kind in providing a substantially positive engagement of the device with the support, or positive mounting of the support on the device to prevent relative shifting or displacement of the parts. In the specific uses as herein mentioned, namely the support of lenses for grinding and polishing, it is essential that the lens be firmly supported in position, and in such manner as to withstand the operation of the grinding and polishing tools upon the lens.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In devices of the character described, a suction cup comprising a closed conical body defined by a bottom wall and an outwardly fia-red annular wall, said outwardly flared annular wall terminating at its periphery in an annular angularly and downwardly extending iiange, an upwardly extending hub portion centrally of the cup, means anchored within said hub portion for detachably coupling a stud member therewith, said stud member having an externally threaded portion, a nut on said threaded portion a compression ring mounted on said cup and adapted to engage the wall portion thereof intermediate the fiange and said hub, a conical member mounted on the hub of the cup and moved by said nut to apply pressure to said ring and the cup, the inner surface of the flange of said cup having an annular inwardly projecting rib inwardly of and spaced from the peripheral edge of said flange, and said rib in combination with the edge portion of the flange forming two radially spaced annular pressure engagements of the cup with a supporting surface.

2. In devices of the character described, a suction cup comprising a closed conical body defined by a bottom wall and an outwardly fiared annular wall, said outwardly flared annular wall terminating at its periphery in an annular angularly and downwardly extending flange, an upwardly extending hub portion centrally of the cup, means anchored within said hub portion for detachably coupling a stud member therewith, said stud member having an externally threaded portion, a nut on said threaded portion a compression ring mounted on said cup and adapted to engage the wall portion thereof intermediate the flange and said hub, a conical member mounted on the hub of the cup and moved by said nut to apply pressure to said ring and the cup, the inner surface of the flange of said cup having an annular inwardly projecting rib inwardly of and spaced from the peripheral edge of said fiange, said rib in combination with the edge portion of the flange forming two radially spaced annular pressure engagements of the cup with a supporting surface, and the wall portion of the cup inwardly of said rib forming, when pressure of the ring is applied thereto, another and primary annular pressure surface engagement with the support.

3. A device of the character described comprising a closed suction cup, a ring of yieldable material encircling the cup, a member for applying pressure to the ring, means centrally of the cup and adjustable longitudinally of the axis thereof for moving said member to apply pressure to the ring while drawing upwardly on the central portion of the cup, the cup having means forming two radiallyv spaced circumferential pressure bands of engagement of the cup with a supporting surface, one of said bands being formed by an inwardly projecting annular rib on the inner surface of the cup inwardly of and adjacent the peripheral edge thereof, and a third primary circumferential band formed by pressure engagement of said ring with the Wall of the cup.

4. A device of the character described comprising a closed suction cup, a ring of yieldable material encircling the cup, a member for applying pressure to the ring, means centrally of the cup and adjustable longitudinally of the axis thereof for moving said member to apply pressure to the ring while drawing upwardly on the central portion of the cup, the cup having means forming two radially spaced circumferential pressure bands of engagement of the cup with a supporting surface, one of said bands being formed by an inwardly projecting annular rib on the inner surface of the cup inwardly of and adjacent the peripheral edge thereof, that part of the cup having the annular rib thereon comprising a ange extending angularly and downwardly to the adjacent body portion of the cup, and a third primary circumferential band formed by pressure engagement of said ring with the wall of the cup.

5. A device of the character described com- F prising a closed suction cup, a ring of yieldable material encircling the cup, a member for applying pressure to the ring, means centrally of the cup and adjustable longitudinally of the axis thereof for moving said member to apply pressure to the ring while drawing upwardly on the central portion of the cup, the cup having means forming two radially spaced circumferential pressure bands of engagement of the cup with a supporting surface, one of said bands being formed by an inwardly projecting annular rib on the inner surface of the cup inwardly of and adjacent the peripheral edge thereof, that part of the cup having the annular rib thereon comprising a flange extending angularly and downwardly to the adjacent body portion of the cup, a third primary circumferential band formed by pressure engagement of said ring with the wall of the cup, said member comprising a thick wall ring-like body, said body having spaced tapered apertures, and conical plugs seated in said apertures.

6. A device of the class described comprising a closed conical suction cup of yieldable material, the cup having a central hu-b portion, means embedded in the hub portion for mounting and actuating said cup, the peripheral portion of the cup having an angularly and downwardly extending flange, the inner surface of said flange having an inwardly extending circumferential rib inwardly of and spaced from the peripheral edge of said flange, and means adjustable with respect to said first named means for applying downward pressure on the peripheral portion of the cup while drawing upwardly on the central portion of the cup in providing three distinct annular pressure area engagements of the cup with a supporting surface, namely said rib, the body of the cup inwardly of the rib and the peripheral edge of said cup.

7. A device of the class described comprising a closed conical suction cup of yieldable material, the cup having a central hub portion, means embedded in the hub portion for mounting and actuating said cup, the peripheral portion of the cup having an angularly and downwardly extending fiange, the inner surface of said flange having an inwardly extending circumferential rib inwardly of and spaced from the peripheral edge of said flange, means adjustable with respect to said first named means for applying downward pressure on the peripheral portion of the cup while drawing upwardly on the central portion of the cup in providing three distinct annular pressure area engagements of' the cup with a supporting surface, namely said rib, the body of the cup inwardly of the rib and the peripheral edge of said cup, said second named means comprising an annular member having a conical surface, and means at circumferentially spaced intervals of said member adjacent the hub of the cup for receiving a tool in predetermined support of the cup.

' MORTEN SUBEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 998,718 Schultze July 25, 1911 1,448,690 Hetzer et al Mar. 13, 1923 1,871,113 Compter et al Aug. 9, 1932 2,165,131 Gourmettes July 4, 1939 

